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Why White Kids in NY Schools Are More Likely Than Black Kids To Take Advanced Math

The New York Equity Coalition is a multi-faceted education advocacy organization that is comprised of groups that are focused on civil rights, fair business practices, and socio-economic equality.

According to the Times-Union, a newspaper based in the Albany, New York metropolitan area, the New York Equity Coalition published the findings of a new research study, which was centered on analyzing the race-based disparities among middle and high school students in the state of New York who are taking advanced math and science courses, such as calculus and physics.

The research team working on behalf of the New York Equity Coalition based its study on unpublished data extracted from the New York Department of Education. The 2016-17 academic year was the time frame that was examined by the New York Equity Coalition’s team of researchers. Two areas of focus were enrollment numbers and course availability openings for education institutions across the state of New York.

The classes that were analyzed were called “gateway courses,” such as calculus, advanced algebra, physics, and computer science. These areas of study help middle and high school students become college-ready and they set the stage for youths to preeminently qualify for the best-paying jobs in America, which are in the STEM-related fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

“This report is alarming in its findings, but hopeful in its conclusions. What it shows more than anything else is that the status quo will not suffice,” Heather Briccetti said, according to the Times-Union. Briccetti is the president and CEO of the Business Council of New York State. For an example, at Albany High School, white students are four times more likely to be enrolled in calculus than black students.

When it comes to Latino students, the numbers are even more dismal. White students are 12 times more likely to be enrolled in calculus than Latino students. “The disparities exist across the state, as well as in localities like the Albany school district. Albany is the Capital Region’s largest school system and one in which 48 percent of the students are black and 17 percent are Latino,” wrote Rick Karlin, a columnist for the Times-Union.

Professionally-crafted research studies are helpful at helping the public pinpoint the existence of a problem but they do not necessarily identify why the problems exist. One good reason for the problems outlined in this study lies in the reality that the public education systems in states across America do not evenly distribute state and federal funding in municipalities, which have student populations that are predominantly black and Latino.

However, academically skilled, responsible, and well-prepared black parents have the opportunity to take their children’s education into their own hands. The time is now.

For more information and a step by step guide on how to transition your children and family to homeschooling, visit: TheBlackHomeSchoolGuide.com.